Israeli actor Gal Gadot has been awarded Israel\u2019s Genesis Prize in recognition of her strong support for the country at a time when many in the entertainment industry have criticized it over the war in Gaza<\/a>.<\/p>\n Describing herself as a \u201cproud Jew and a proud Israeli,\u201d the \u201cWonder Woman\u201d star, who at times has paid a personal price for her advocacy, said she would donate the $1 million prize to organizations committed to helping Israel recover from the trauma of its two-year war against Hamas.<\/p>\n \u201cIsrael has endured unimaginable pain,\u201d she said in a statement released by the prize on Tuesday. \u201cNow we must begin to heal \u2014 to rebuild hearts, families and communities.\u201d<\/p>\n The Genesis Prize, nicknamed \u201cthe Jewish Nobel\u201d by Time magazine, is granted each year to a person for their professional achievements, contributions to humanity and commitment to Jewish values. Winners have donated the award to promote causes close to their hearts, such as battling antisemitism, advancing women\u2019s rights or fighting for economic justice.<\/p>\n The war in Gaza erupted with Hamas\u2019 Oct. 7, 2023, attack, in which militants killed some 1,200 people in southern Israel and took over 250 others hostage.<\/p>\n While Israel received some international sympathy in the early days of the war, global opinion quickly turned against it as its retaliatory offensive intensified. Health officials in Gaza say over 69,000 Palestinians have been killed, and the territory has suffered widespread destruction. Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire last month.<\/p>\n The negative sentiment toward Israel has reverberated in Hollywood, where hundreds of industry workers, including some leading directors and actors, recently pledged to boycott the Israeli film industry<\/a>.<\/p>\n Throughout the war, Gadot, who served in the Israeli military after high school, remained a fervent advocate for Israel. She campaigned for the release of hostages held by Hamas, met with hostage families<\/a> and released hostages and helped promote the screening in Los Angeles of a graphic film documenting the Hamas attack.<\/p>\n At times, she has faced pressure and criticism for this support.<\/p>\n Gadot, who played the wicked stepmother in \u201cSnow White,\u201d has said she believes anti-Israel sentiment was a factor in the poor performance of the film early this year. When she received a star<\/a> on the Hollywood Walk of Fame last March, supporters of Israel and of Palestinians clashed nearby. And in August, hundreds of people from the film industry signed a letter calling on the Venice Film Festival to withdraw an invitation<\/a> to Gadot. The festival\u2019s director rejected the call, though Gadot did not attend.<\/p>\n Stan Polovets, the co-founder and chair of the Genesis Prize Foundation, praised Gadot\u2019s \u201cmoral clarity and unwavering love for Israel,\u201d saying it had come at great personal and professional risk.<\/p>\n